Printers often get a bad rep for their complicated features and tendencies to glitch. It’s certainly a drag when they do, and for that reason, I actually shy away from using one to print photos myself. Yet, in testing the Kodak Mini 2 Instant Photo Printer, I realized quickly that photo printing at home doesn’t have to be a chore. The Mini 2, which connects to your phone via Bluetooth to retrieve photos and print them, is an easy way to print wallet-sized photos at home or on the go.
Design: Doesn’t get much simpler
The Kodak Mini 2 Instant Photo Printer packs great features into a small and simple design. It’s smaller than its predecessor, the Kodak Photo Printer Mini, and printed photos come out of the Mini 2 from a slot that runs along the front edge. It accommodates all smartphone users, as is compatible with iOS and Android devices. It also features NFC compatibility.
Setup Process: A matter of minutes
Getting the Kodak Mini 2 Instant Photo Printer up and running was so much easier than expected. Connecting devices to Bluetooth, particularly when it involves the use of an app, can be trying. However, for this product that wasn’t the case. After connecting to Bluetooth, I opened the application and chose a single photo to print. There’s an option to print multiple photos, which conveniently allows users to print a number of photos back-to-back and streamlines the selection and printing process time for multiple photos. If you’re having trouble deciding on a photo to print, just beware that the printer tends to shut off within a couple of minutes of idle time. If that happens, then you’ll have to quit the application, reconnect to Bluetooth, and restart the selection and editing processes all over again.
Wireless: Nearly no cables necessary
The only cable needed for this device is the charging cord, which I found to be super convenient. Users manage the mini printer with the Kodak application, and they can add filters, card templates, ID photo print, cropping and more. I found that application to be pretty easy-to-use, though the process of cropping photos can occasionally be difficult. Upon choosing a photo, the application crops it, but then users can either re-crop the or simply reposition it based on the dimensions already provided. However, it’s difficult to reposition the photo using the ‘Crop’ tool, because it sticks.
Image Quality: Impressive and customizable, even if it’s not HD
The Kodak Mini 2 Instant Photo Printer produces credit-card sized images with excellent image quality in a wide color range—a 256 gradation with 16.7 million colors. I printed photos with many colors and with a sepia filter, as well as with increased saturation and sharpness, and the printer was able to deliver it all. Increasing the sharpness on my photos was the way I got higher definition, as the printer doesn’t print with a ton of definition on its own. Kodak promises water-resistant, fingerprint-resistant photo prints with an extra protective layer for preserving image quality and color integrity, and it delivers. When I sprinkled water on one of my test images, there wasn’t any noticeable effect, so I held the photo under the running faucet for a second or two, and the ink still didn’t wash away.
Performance: Fast, if you don’t take too long to pick a photo
The Kodak Mini 2 Instant Photo Printer produces your desired photos in less than a minute. As previously mentioned, there are some minor glitches with the editing process in the application and connectivity, but they’re easy to manage and don’t add too much time to the printing process.
Price: Not too expensive
For roughly $90, you get a mini printer that prints acceptable wallet-sized photos. They’re not the highest of quality, but then again, given their purpose, do they really need to be?
Kodak Mini 2 Instant Photo Printer vs. Polaroid Mint Pocket Printer
The Polaroid Mint Pocket Printer is the closest competitor to the Kodak Mini 2 Instant Photo Printer. Though the former comes at a slightly higher price (it ranges from roughly $115 to $140), the quality of the printer isn’t actually reflected in the higher price range. Kodak Mini 2 Instant Photo Printer is meant for consumers with a very specific need—printing wallet-sized photos. It’s a good option for those who have a use for it, such as teens or adolescents decorating lockers or dorm rooms, or those who might want a small and user-friendly printer available to guests at a party in lieu of a Polaroid camera.
